Growing up, we all heard, “Eat your fruits, they’re good for you!” So what’s so good about them that had your parents convinced? Well, I’ll make one point clear, your parents are right. Fruits really are the better alternative to chips and candies.
Here are some fruit facts that will convince you to continue choosing fruits over the bags of chips in the local general store:
Strawberries: A fresh strawberry smoothie is refreshing in the summer, cooling in the fall, tasty in the winter, and yummy in the spring. Strawberries are tasty and are filled with proteins and vitamins that can aid in protecting you against cancer, aging, and inflammation. An added bonus to eating strawberries is that the vitamins can serve as co-factors to help the body metabolize carbohydrates, proteins and fats. This means that your metabolism can work faster to break down food particles, keeping you slim if you only indulge yourself (with ice cream, McDonald’s, chocolate) once every blue moon.
Watermelons: These delicious fruits provide a great source of vitamin A, which helps with your vision and immunity system. Unfortunately, like carrots, consuming lots of watermelon doesn’t mean that your 20/40 vision will turn 20/20, unless you were experiencing a major deficiency in vitamin A (note that vitamin A is only one component attributed to vision). Vitamin A is also maintains healthy skin. Watermelons also contain potassium-it protect against heart diseases! Watermelons have many benefits, so go out and get yourself some watermelons!
Kiwifruits: Kiwis are your source of vitamin C, which will help the body, developing resistance against infectious agents in the blood. Kiwifruits also reduce the risk for cancers, strokes, and heart diseases. Kiwis can help prevent developmental problems in kids, such as ADHD and autism. Kiwis is a rich source of vitamin C, more than citrus fruits-which have always be regarded as the almighty vitamin C suppliers. Overall, plums may be small, but they’re packed with many benefits.
Mangos: Research on mangos has concluded that the fruit protects the body against colon, breast, leukemia and prostate cancers. Mango is also a supplier of vitamin A (great for vision and healthy skin). Mangos have carotenes, which are known to provide protection against lungs and oral cavity cancers. I personally prefer mango over any fruits because of its tastiness! And who am I to object if it helps promote a healthy lifestyle, too?
Apples: We all know calcium strengthens bones. Boron, an ingredient in apples, also strengthens bones. Apples, if consume daily can help to better manage asthma. Eating apples during pregnancy can help reduce the chances of asthma. Apples can serve as substitute for coffee! Yes, it’s true. There’s no caffeine in apples, but taking a few bites from an apple can knock down that drowsiness in the morning.
Plums: Plums are a very good source of vitamin A. Vitamin A is essential for vision. It is also required for maintaining healthy mucus membranes and skin. As mentioned before, vitamin A can also protect against lung and oral cavity cancers. Other proteins in plums are known to help against aging. Those with low red blood cells should give plums a chance because there is iron in the fruit, which enable the formation of red blood cells. Plums help reduce Alzheimer’s disease in the elderly.
With this new knowledge about the healthy benefits of fruits, put down your fattening snacks and give fruits a chance!
Citations:
http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/kiwi-fruit.html
http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/10-health-benefits-of-apples.html
http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/plums.html
http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/watermelon.html
http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/mango-fruit.html
http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/strawberries.html
